Oct 14, 2014
Stem cells can now be easily made from any individual patient. We also now can turn these stem cells into most of the cell types that make up the body including nerve cells, heart cells, and liver cells. Although stem cells could offer an inexhaustible supply of ‘spare parts’ that could be used to repair damaged tissues, as is the case for diabetes and Parkinsons, a lot of work still needs to be done before stem cell transplants become routine. Stem cells, however, have other uses that can have immediate impact on treating disease. Dr. Steve Duncan, Marcus Professor of Human and Molecular Genetics at the Medical College of Wisconsin and director of MCW’s Program in Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, will explain how stem cells can mimic complex human diseases in the laboratory and offer a new way to identify drugs that can be used to treat disease in patients.